GOOD statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
10 February 2022
SONA 2022 presented President Cyril Ramaphosa with the unenviable task of reassuring the nation that government understands the challenges confronting the nation and has the capacity to manage South Africa back from the economic, inequity and integrity brink.
The most persuasive arguments at his disposal might have been commitments to measurable targets and deadlines, but his speech fell disappointingly short in this regard.
The swelling ranks of unemployed South Africans would have welcomed the emphasis the President placed on creating an environment conducive to the private sector creating jobs. But they would have liked to know how and when – beyond the old platitudes such as cutting red tape. How will the private sector create jobs in the context of the projected one percent per annum economic growth forecast for the next few years?
Many South Africans would have welcomed the President’s commitment to stopping State Capture but, again, what is practically being done to grow the NPA’s teeth? We will hear in June what steps the State will take to address the reports of the Zondo Commission. In the meantime, what’s to do but wait – another half a year.
We welcome the extension of the social relief grant for another year, but don’t welcome the continuous kicking of a decision on implementing a permanent Basic Income Grant to touch.
We welcome the detail the President provided about increased electricity generation capacity. But last week we suffered rolling electricity blackouts – and this has been going on intermittently for 15 years. When will this knee on our economy’s neck be released?
We unequivocally welcome the President’s call for national unity, consensus and commitment to the Constitution.
But without real consequence management, without holding the crooked and criminally inept accountable, without addressing the culture of impunity that oxygenates crime from the corridors of power to the streets of our communities, as a former President warned many SONA’s ago: The center will not hold.
Media enquiries
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za